Simple Gifts

I forgot that it was Friday.

The kids were finally off from school for Christmas break and my husband took the day off, too. It felt like a Saturday and we all slept in - a simple luxury reserved for that one day each week.

Tiny Boy got up and climbed in bed with us. It is such a comfy, cozy place that it did not take long for him to fall asleep again. I stayed awake, savoring the moment.

The cheery yellow room, dusky with the early morning light.

Flannel sheets and a heavy comforter to ward off the chill of the wintery, snow-covered morning.

The smell of a warm little head pressed close against my chest.

Papa Bear snoring on one side, Baby Bear snoring on the other, Mama Bear sighing contentedly in the middle.

It seems that God is reminding me at every turn to stop and smell the roses. To enjoy the moments. To treasure them in my heart like Mary did. The word "treasure" means to "regard something as valuable." Scripture tells us that after all of these amazing events: the Angel of God coming to Mary, her visit with Elizabeth, the Angel's visit to Joseph, the Shepherd's fantastic story...  Mary tucked these things in her heart so that she could think over them again. (Luke 2:19, 33)

She regarded these moments as valuable and thought back to them many times throughout her life.

Like His "first-born son" offering at the Temple where the Prophet Simeon runs to Him and blesses Him, then the prophetess Anna comes just at that moment and does the same. (Luke 2:25-38)

When Wise Men from another country showed up at the house, announcing that they had come to worship this special Child-King. (Matthew 2: 1-12)

Or Joseph's dream, warning them of the danger to Jesus' life and their hasty midnight journey out of the country, followed by the horrendous news reports of the infanticide of ALL baby boys! (Matthew 2:13-23)

Perhaps each and every time Jesus did something that amazed her throughout His childhood. (Luke 2:40)

Or the time that He astonished the Rabbis in the Temple with His understanding of the scriptures - (He should understand it - He wrote it! Luke 2:41-52)

I wonder if she was thinking of these things at the wedding in Cana when she said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (John 2:1-12) He had not even introduced Himself to the world and started His official ministry! He had not done any public miracles that are recorded in scripture up to this point. But she remembered Who He was, and she knew what He was cappable of, so her faith in Him prompted her to tell others to trust Him also.

I do not have a child who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords so I do not have those kinds of moments to treasure. But I am a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He gives the simple gift of special moments. I, then, have the opportunity to choose to treasure them - to tuck them away in my heart and be thankful for them, or to be too busy to notice. To see the world through His eyes, or to be so self-absorbed that I miss the simple gifts happening all around me at any given moment.

I am slowly learning to make the better choice.

What Simple Gifts have you been given today? Don't forget to take the time to notice!

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Becoming an Excellent Woman Everyday Life Matters of the Heart My Journey